Track for upwardly acting doors



Aug. 24, 1954 C. A. SCHACHT, JR. ETAL TRACK FOR UPWARDLY ACTING DOORS Filed March 2, 1953 a Y R nw N w W am w W 6 m 5 9 4 Aw! flun Patented Aug. 24, 1954 TRACK FOR UPWARDLY ACTING DOORS Clifford A. Schacht, 3n, and Flay Downs Cross.-

well, Hartford City, InoL, assignors to Overhead Door Corporation, Hartford Cityrlnd a corporation of lindiana Application March 2, 1953,, Serial No. 339,866

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements. in a track for upwardly acting doors.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a track for upwardly acting doors comprising an upright lower track member and' a generally horizontal upper track member having a downwardly curved forward end with means for eifectively coupling the track members without the necessity of bolting or riveting them to connecting couplings or elements.

,Second, to provide a track for upwardly acting doors comprising a plurality of track members of laterally facing channel section which enables the rapid and secure connection thereof without the employment of rivets or bolts projecting into the way provided by the track for the door guide and supporting rollers traveling therein.

Third, to provide a track structure for upwardly acting doors comprising an upright lower.

member and a generally horizontal upper memher having a downwardly curved forward and enabling the rapid and secure connection of the upper member to the lower member even where,

there is. little head room for the upper member.

Fourth, to provide a support and coupling memher for the track members of laterally facing channel section enabling the rapid connection thereof and effectively supporting them in alignment, at the same time providing a secure connection adapted to withstand the loads or strains to which it may be subjected in use.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: V Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view of a track structure embodying the invention showingthe relation of the parts to a door frame and to a ceiling of a building such, for example, as a garage.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of parts shown in Fig. 1 illustrating further details of the structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryhorizontal section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. e is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the steps in manipulating the upper track member in coupling it or connecting itto the mounting bracket and the lower tracl; member.

In the accompanying drawing we have illustrated only portions of one track of an upwardly acting door. It should be understood, however, that the tracks are used in opposed pairs and are adapted to receive the guide rollers, not illustrated, of an upwardly acting door such, for example, as is generally illustrated in the Blodgett Patent 2,012,336, August 27, 1935.

In the accompanying drawing, I represents a portion of a door frame and 2 a portion of the ceiling of a building or room such, for example, as a garage. The generally upright track member 3, only a portion of which is illustrated, is normally of considerable length and may correspond in length to approximately the height of the door opening. The second or upper track member 4 is disposed generally in a horizontal relation and is provided with a curved end portion 5 at its forward end terminating in a relatively short verticalportion 6 aligned with the upright track member 3. These track members are of laterally facing channel section and are of the same cross sectional shape and dimensions, their inner flanges 1 being curved and providing retaining means for the door supporting and guiding rollers which travel in the tracks. This, however, is a known feature.

We provide a mounting and coupling bracket designated generally by the numeral 8 and desirably formed. as a sheet metal stamping comprising the side plate 9 providedat its inner end with the laterally turned attaching flange III which is horizontally slotted at l I to receive the attaching screw l 2. The bracket is provided with a curved flange H3 at its outer end, the curvature of the flange being such as to closely embrace the inner flanges of the track sections to be coupled and supported. This outer flange 53 is of substantially less height than the vertical height or width of the side plate 9 of. the bracket, the purpose of which will appear as the description proceeds.

The side plate is provided with a vertically disposed keyhole slot I l, positioned with its narrow or small end downward. The track member 4 hasa laterally projecting headed stud it on the web thereof positioned to engage the narrow portion of the slot It when the adjacent ends of the track members 3 and 4 are in abutting relation as shown at it in Fig. 2. In coupled position, the track member 4 is further supported by the hanger bracket ll depending, from the ceiling 2. The track member t is commonly of considerable length and must be of a length to supportingly receive the upwardly acting door when it is in its open position.

There is frequently little head room or space above or between the upper track member and the ceiling so the supporting bracket 8 is designed not only to provide a coupling and support for the track members but to facilitate their connection, notwithstanding this restricted manipulating space. The front wall or flange of the supporting bracket is of less height than the height of the side plate or wall of the bracket which enables the engagement of the upper track member with the supporting and coupling bracket by a tilting swinging movement as is indicated in Fig. 4. It also lessens the labor and time requirement in erecting the track. The Workman may grasp the track, positioning it in supported relation for tilting as is shown in Fig. 4, and then swing it to upright position with a somewhat lateral twist which engages the headed stud with the keyhole slot.

When swung to fully erected position, the upper member drops down within the socket provided by the lower member and the mounting bracket with its lower end in supporting engagement with the upper end of the lower member as best shown in Fig. 2. The bracket is desirably fixedly secured to the upright section 3 by means of spot welding as indicated at I8. With the upper section engaged as shown in Fig. 2, the end of the track section 4 is secured to the hanger I! by means of the bolt or other fastening IS. The coupling brackets may be used to connect two relatively straight sections or track members but in the average garage installations, the sections 3 are of suitable length for the particular door opening. However, in airplane hangers and the like, the door opening may be of greater height and more than one section or member 3 required. The track member section or coupling and supporting bracket are highly desirable for use in coupling such sections or members.

We have illustrated and described a highly practical embodiment thereof. We have not attempted to illustrate various embodiments and adaptations which we contemplate as it is believed the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A track for upwardly acting doors comprising an upright lower track member, a generally horizontal upper track member having a downwardly curved end portion merging into a vertical portion aligned with the upper end of the lower track member, said track members being of laterally facing channel section and of the same cross sectional dimensions and having curved inner flanges, a mounting bracket comprising a side plate provided with an attaching flange at its inner end and having a curved flange at its outer end embracing the curved flanges of said track members, said outer flange being of less height than the height of the side plate, said bracket being secured to the upper end of the lower track member with its side plate and outer flange projecting above the upper end thereof providing a socket for the end of the upper track member, there being a keyhole slot in the side plate of the bracket disposed vertically with its small end downwardly, anda headed stud on the upper track member adjacent but spaced from the end thereof and engageable with said keyhole slot of said bracket, the stud being positioned so that the adjacent end of the upper track member rests upon the upper end of the lower track member when the stud is in retaining engagement with said keyhole slot.

2. A track for upwardly acting doors comprising an upright lower track member, a generally horizontal upper track member having a downwardly curved end portion, said track members being of laterally facing channel section and having curved inner flanges, a mounting bracket comprising a side plate provided with an attaching flange at its inner end and having a curved flange at its outer end embracing the curved flanges of said track members, said outer flange being of less height than the height of the side plate, said bracket being secured to the upper end of the lower track member with its side plate and outer flange projecting above the upper end thereof providing a socket for the end of the upper track member, there being a keyhole slot in the side plate of the bracket, and a headed stud on the upper track member adjacent but spaced from the end thereof and engageable with said keyhole slot of said bracket, the stud being positioned so that the adjacent end of the upper track member rests upon the upper end of the lower track member when the stud is in retaining engagement with said keyhole slot.

3. A track for upwardly acting doors comprising an upright lower track member, a generally horizontal upper track member having a downwardly curved end portion merging into a vertical portion aligned with the upper end of the lower track member, said track members being of laterally facing channel section, a mounting bracket comprising a side plate provided with an attaching flange at its inner end and having a flange at its outer end embracing the inner flanges of said track members, said outer flange being of less ,height than the height of the side plate, said bracket being secured to the upper end of the lower track member with its side plate and outer flange projecting above the upper end of the lower track member providing a socket for the end of the upper track member, there being a keyhole slot in the side plate of the bracket disposed vertically, with its small end downwardly, and a headed stud on the upper track member adjacent but spaced from the end thereof and engageable with said keyhole slot of said bracket, the stud being positioned so that the adjacent end of the upper track member seats upon the upper end of the lower track member when the end of the upper track member is disposed in said socket and the stud is in retaining engagement with said keyhole slot.

4. A track for upwardly acting doors comprising an upright lower track member, a generally horizontal upper track member having a downwardly curved end portion, said track members being of laterally facing channel section, a mounting bracket comprising a side plate provided with an attaching flange at it inner end and having a flange at its outer end embracing the inner flanges of said track members, said bracket being secured to the upper end of the lower track member to project above the upper end of the lower track member providing a socket for the end of the upper track member, there being a keyhole slot in the side plate, and a headed stud on the upper track member adjacent but spaced from the end thereof and engageable with said keyhole slot of said bracket, the stud being positioned so that the adjacent end of the upper track member seats upon the upper end of the lower track member when the end of the upper track member is disposed in said socket and the stud isin retaining engagement with said keyhole slot.

5. A track for upwardly acting doors comprising first and second track members, said track members being of laterally facing channel section and having curved inner flanges, a mounting bracket comprising a side plate having a curved flange at it outer end embracing the inner curved flanges of said track members, said outer flange being of less width than the width of the side plate, said bracket being secured to one end of the first track member with its side plate and outer flange projecting beyond the end thereof providing a socket for the end of the second track member, there being a. keyhole slot in the side plate of the bracket, and a headed stud on the second track member adjacent but spaced from the end thereof and engageable with said keyhole slot of said bracket, the stud being positioned so that the adjacent ends of the track members abut when the stud is in retaining engagement with said keyhole slot.

6. A track for upwardly acting doors comprising first and second track members, said track members being of laterally facing channel section, a mounting bracket comprising a side plate having a flange at its outer end embracing the inner flanges of said track members, said bracket being secured to one end of the first track member with its side plate and outer flange projecting beyond the end thereof providing a socket for the end of the second track member, there being a keyhole slot in the side plate of the bracket, and a headed stud on the second track member adjacent but spaced from the end thereof and engageable with said keyhole slot of said bracket, the stud being positioned so that the adlacent ends of the track members abut when the stud is in retaining engagement with said keyhole slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,747,206 Wilson Feb. 18, 1930 1,974,147 BittOIf Sept. 18, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 451,043 Italy Aug. 23 1949 

